Carlsbad's air service still up in the air

Carlsbad's Air Service Committee has called a special meeting today because of disagreements with the Department of Transportation over their choice of flight carrier.

Last week, the committee, led by Don George, announced it had selected California-based Boutique Air as its preference for air service in Carlsbad.

The company presented a plan that would provide flights out of Carlsbad to Albuquerque and Dallas. But on Friday, Dennis DeVany of the federal Essential Air Service Division, emailed committee members asking them to reevaluate the contract bids.

According to DeVany, Soveriegn Air, one of three companies that submitted bids for the air service contract, is off the table.

The Department of Transportation says two of the options presented by Boutique Air also can't be considered because they'd require too much money from the federal government.

DeVany cited the possible sequestration as a reason, stating in the e-mail that the services that both Sovereign Air and Boutique Air had promised to provide were "significantly in excess of what was requested and would require subsidy amounts that the Department cannot justify."

DeVany asked that the Air Service Committee reevaluate the bid and narrow its choices down to New Mexico Airlines and Boutique Air's option to service flights to Dallas only.

George e-mailed DeVany back, stating his discomfort for the way the situation was handled.

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He has called a meeting to further discuss the matter, as all comments on the issue are due to the DOT by Feb. 20, per DeVany's request.
The meeting will be held at City Hall, 101 N. Halagueno St., at 4 p.m. today.

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